INTRODUCTION. Xlll 



very narrow, and without bristles. Wings short, broad and convex ; the first 

 quill very short; the second not so long as the third or fourth, which are 

 nearly equal. Tail short. Legs feathered to the tibio-tarsal joint ; tarsus 

 longer than the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal in length, the outer toe 

 slightly connected with the middle toe. The whole body closely covered 

 with down, sternum with the posterior margin entire (p. 89). 



Family PANURID/E. 



Panurus, K. L. Koch. — Bill short, subconical, upper mandible convex above, 

 decurved from the base, broader and considerably longer than the lower, 

 which is almost straight; the edges of both somewhat inflected and not 

 notched. Nostrils basal, oval, pointed in front and partly covered by re- 

 flected briitly feathers. Wings with ten quills, the first almost obsolete, the 

 third longest, but the fourth and fifth nearly equal to it. Tail very long and 

 much graduated. Tarsus long and scutellated in front ; feet stout; claws not 

 much liooked (p. 91). 



Family PARID.E. 



ACREDULA, K. L. Koch. — Bill very short, strong, much compressed, both man- 

 dibles curved, the upper considerably longer than the lower. Nostrils basal, 

 round, concealed by the plumage. Eyelids with broad bare margins. Wings 

 with ten quills, gradually increasing in length to the fourth and fifth, which 

 are the longest. Tail very long, narrow and graduated, the outer feathers 

 being only about one-third of the length of the middle pair. Tarsus long 

 and scutellated ; feet moderate ; the anterior toes united to the second joint, 

 the outer toe longer than the inner, the hind toe stout and armed with a long 

 hooked claw (p. 93). 



Parus, Limians. — Bill strong, straight, rather conical, slightly compressed, upper 

 mandible hardly longer than the lower and not notched. Nostrils basal, 

 round, covered with reflected bristly feathers. Wings with ten quills, the 

 first short, the fourth or fifth the longest. Tail moderate, even or slightly 

 rounded. Tarsus moderate and scutellated; feet strong ; toes as in preceding 

 genus (p. 95). 



Family SITTID.i:. 



SiTTA, Liniiaiis. — Bill moderate, strong, and slightly conical, the lower mandible 

 ascending from the angle to the point. Tongue short and horny, the tip 

 abrupt and furnished with strong bristles. Nostrils basal, rounded, placed 

 in a deep hollow, covered by hairs and short feathers. Wings rather long; 

 the first quill much shorter than the second, the fourth or fifth the longest. 

 Tail short, flexible, broad and nearly square. Legs short and stout, the 

 tarsi scutellated ; toes long and strong — the hind toe especially, the outer toe 

 joined at its base to the middle toe ; claws large and much hooked (p. 105). 



Family TROGLODYTID.E. 



Troglodytes, Vicillot. — Bill moderate, compressed, slightly curved, without 

 any notch, and pointed. Nostrils basal, oval, partly covered by a membrane. 

 Wings very short., concave, rounded ; the first quill rather short, the fourth 

 or fifth the longest. Tail generally short ; its feathers soft and rounded. 

 Tarsus rather long and strong ; the middle toe united at the base to the 



